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6 Important Ways to Protect Your Financial ID

Posted by Jack Wilkinson on Wed, Jul 19, 2017 @ 08:30 AM

By Sally Perkins, Freelance Writer

In 2016, $16 billion was stolen from Americans through financial identity fraud. Even after the money is recovered, it can take countless hours of work over the course of years to get your credit score back to where it should be. Avoid the headache of rebounding from identity theft by adhering to these simple financial ID security tips:

Enroll in a Reputable Financial Identity Protection Service

You can make protecting your financial info much easier by enlisting the help of a company that offers credit score alerts, tracking, and other services. Shop around for a program that fits your needs. Most of these services charge a small monthly fee to protect your finances. Think of it as an insurance policy against financial fraud.

Do Not Give out Your Social Security Number

For most of us, this is obvious. You should only use or share your social security number when you are certain that it will remain safe. Do not share this number over email or with strangers unless you are absolutely sure they are legitimate. When you visit a website that you trust and are asked for your social security number, make sure the web address begins with “https://”. This lets you know the page is secure.

It is your duty to protect your financial identity by using internet security best practices. This includes using antimalware software to regularly check your computer for malware. Also, if you use public internet connections, be careful about what information you access.

Avoid Phishing Scams

Phishing scams have become incredibly sophisticated. Even if you think you are a seasoned pro, it is easy to fall prey to a phishing email. For instance, an identity thief could use seemingly innocuous information about you to trick you into sharing personal information. To protect yourself, closely examine email addresses to make sure they are coming from a trustworthy source.

Be Wary of Downloading Files

Unless a file is from a person or business you are familiar with and you are certain the file is safe, you should not download it. Files may contain malware that runs in the background of your computer and records everything you do, including your logins and passwords. Antimalware software can also help protect against malware.